At Wall Decal World, we work with tons of amazing businesses, schools, and organizations who want their logo or branding turned into a custom wall decal. Understanding rgb vs. cmyk is an important part to understand. One question that pops up every now and then is:

“Why doesn’t the color I picked look exactly the same when it’s printed?”

If you’re not a graphic designer, this can be a little confusing—so here’s a simple breakdown that makes it all make sense.

Screen Colors vs. Printed Colors (RGB vs. CMYK)

Here’s the quick version:

• HEX and RGB colors are for screens (like websites and digital files). They’re made of light.
• CMYK colors are for print. They’re made with ink.

Most of the time, colors convert from screen to print with very little noticeable difference. But some specific shades—especially super bright blues, greens, or neons—can look a bit different when printed, simply because screens and printers “build” colors in totally different ways.

🟦 Example: That Bright Electric Blue

It might tone down just a bit in print—not a huge change, just less glow because there’s no backlight like a screen provides.

So What Can You Do?

If you’re not working with a designer, don’t worry—we’re here to help. But if you’re curious or want the best accuracy possible, here are a few tips:

1.  Use CMYK values if you have them
   Design files made for print often include CMYK color codes. If you’ve got them, send them along!
2.  Don’t worry if you only have a HEX or RGB color
   We’ll convert it for you—and most of the time, it’ll be very close.
   When we send your proof, we’re showing you exactly how the color will print (in CMYK), so there won’t be any surprises when your decal arrives. What you see in the emailed proof is what you’ll get!
3. Consider setting up both web and print brand colors
   Larger brands often have style guides that include both RGB (for web) and CMYK (for print) color codes to keep things consistent.
   If your business doesn’t have this yet, it’s something worth thinking about! It helps keep your colors looking sharp across all your marketing—online and in the real world.
4. Want to be extra careful? Look at Pantone colors
   Pantone is the gold standard in print color. You can explore colors here and see their CMYK versions: Pantone Color Finder

What If You Made Your Logo in Canva?

No problem! Just know that Canva creates designs in RGB color, which is meant for screens. When it’s time to print your logo (like on a wall decal), we’ll convert those colors to CMYK, and most of the time it’s a very close match. Occasionally, certain bright colors may look slightly different in print.

If you have Canva Pro, you can download a version made for printing:

1. Click Share > Download
2. Choose PDF Print
3. Under “Color Profile,” select CMYK
4. Download and send us that file (or save it for yourself/your team to know what your print/CMYK version looks like)

If you’re not using Pro, don’t worry—we’ll still convert your file and show you exactly how it will print in your proof before anything moves to production.

The Bottom Line of RGB vs. CMYK

• We always do our best to match your colors as closely as possible.
• For most customers, the difference is minimal or not noticeable at all. Many brands and designers will save it correctly for you to use.
• A few specific colors may print slightly differently than they appear on your screen—but your logo and branding will still look amazing.
• Your proof will reflect the final print color (in CMYK), so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
• If you’re building your brand, having both screen and print colors is a great way to stay consistent.

Need help checking your color or converting your file? Just reach out—we’re real people and happy to walk you through it.